WHO STRUCK CHRIST?

Have you ever read the account in the gospels of the trial and crucifixion of Christ and tried to actually picture it in your mind as if you were really there? Luke tells us of something that happened on that occasion that we ought to consider.
In Luke 22:63-65 "And the men that held Jesus mocked him and smote him. and when they had blindfolded him they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him."

Doesn't it make shivers run up your spine to think of this scene in the house of the high priest? It was here in the home of a religious leader that Christ received his most shameful treatment! They seemed not to realize that they abused their only hope of eternal life! There was none left to defend him or even to sympathize with him. Peter was the last of the disciples to leave, but now even he is gone out into the dark before the dawn, to pour out his bitter tears for having denied the one he had vowed to follow even to death.

Christ has truly placed himself into the hands of wicked men! The prophecy of Isaiah is becoming only too real. Isa. 50:6 "I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, I hid not my face from shame and spitting."
Consider how absurd are these, who think that a cloth around his eyes will hide their actions from Him who knows even the thoughts of their hearts! How typical is this of the whole human race! This folly began with Adam as he tried to cover his own sin and shame with the fig leaves. Adam and Eve were unable to even hide their shame from themselves.

Cain slew his brother and hid him in the earth, but God said "The blood of your brother Abel crieth to me from the ground!
Aachan was a man in Israel who thought that to hide his sin from the eyes of man was to hide it also from God. It nevertheless brought defeat to Israel in battle and death to himself and his family! In the early Church we have a record of a man and wife that tried to hide something from God, but He made it known and they suffered the consequences! Men still think that to do something in secret is to fool God.

The men who held Jesus covered the eyes of the Lord; but he knew. He knew not only those who struck his face and those who spat upon him, but even those who stood by and watched! After all, here is one who knows even the thoughts of the heart! In the sixth chapter of Luke we see him confounding the Pharisees with a question, because as it is stated in the eighth verse, "But he knew their thoughts!"
As he sat at meat in the house of Simon the Pharisee, Luke records that Simon spake within himself, (Lu7:39) and immediately we are told in (v. 40) Jesus answered him!

Here is one who knew Nathaniel before he ever approached him and had even seen him as he rested under a fig tree a great distance away.
John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!John 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

Mark tells us of the woman with an issue of blood who only touched the hem of his garment, and IMMEDIATELY he knew it!
Mark 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
Mark 5:26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
Mark 5:27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
Mark 5:28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
Mark 5:29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
Mark 5:30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

Yes, He knew the hand that struck each blow and the mouth from which each blasphemous word came, and it is still true today that he knows all about us. He has warned us in Num 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Is there one alive today who would join in such cruel activities and foolish actions as those in which they engaged on that night? We like to think that in our times. such things wouldn't happen, but Christ IS still being slapped and scorned by sinful men!

A life of rejecting Christ as Saviour is as a blow to his cheek! Remember Isaiah tells us he was "bruised for our iniquities" Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed..

Paul said he died for OUR sins. Though you might be so very tender-hearted and gentle that the thought of participating in the beating of Christ is an abomination to you, yet the rejection of such a love as his is an act of cruelty. They only did it because they didn't want him as saviour and king. Man still rejects him and grieves the Holy Spirit for the same reason. Don't add your scorn to the blasphemers of that day, but rather accept him and the life that he offers you.

To accept Christ as saviour but then refuse to follow is an insult to him who died for you. Yet there are those who claim that they have been saved but who will not serve him. These fine folks wouldn't think of saying a cross word about Christ, they would shrink back in horror from the suggestion that they join those who scorned and spit upon him, and yet their lives tell the world, `He died for me, but I don't think he's worth living for!'
If you have ever professed Christ as your saviour then why not separate yourself for all time from those who hate him. Show the world that the one who thought you worth dying for, is worth your living for!

There was a man who was a laborer with Paul named Demas who was worthy to be mentioned, as Paul wrote the letter to the Colossian Church (Col 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.). Later, however, Paul wrote concerning him, to his everlasting shame, 2 Tim 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;
He was as those in Galatia, to whom Paul wrote in Gal. 4:9, "but now, after that ye have known God, or rather, are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?"

This is the kind of individual about whom the Lord spoke in Luke 9:62, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Little do these people realize the insult to the Lord when they say, "Oh, I used to serve him, but I quit!" This is to say to him, I've tried walking with you, but I would rather have the world! How sad to see one who starts out with such joy and promise in the Lord's service, to falter and turn away. There are many in the world today who aren't happy and don't know why. Maybe it's because you've been looking for happiness in the wrong place!

AWAY VILE HAND

Shall I turn again and shake the hand
of the fiend who drove the nails,
and have the hand that plucked his beard
laid in friendship on my shoulders?
When the devil and his crowd assails
the cross, where will I stand?
Beside the saints who never feared;
Or with men whose hatred smolders?
To turn my back on him, my Lord
and bow to sin's dread reign
is but to join the ones who mocked
and lift the sponge with bitter gall
that adds new sorrow to his pain.
He died for sin's vast captive horde
that heaven's gates might be unlocked!
Away, Vile Hand! He loved me more that all!
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Will you take your stand for Christ today? If your are lost you need only come repenting of your sins and receive the free pardon he offers you. If you have been saved but haven't started your life of service, or you started out but fell by the wayside, will you say even now, "I'll not strike a blow to his cheek nor will I stand any longer with those who do, but I'll live for him who died for me!